Constellium strike hits aero alloy lead times

Sep 12, 2012 | 05:57 PM | Suzy Waite

Tags  Constellium, Alcoa, Kaiser, aluminum, aerospace alloys, Ravenswood plant, strike, United Steelworkers union Suzy Waite

NEW YORK — The ongoing strike at Constellium’s rolling mill in Ravenswood, W.Va., is keeping lead times for aerospace alloys long, with some reporting a trickle-down effect to more common alloys as well.

Constellium’s Ravenswood facility, which primarily serves the aerospace industry, has been operating at reduced capacity since the strike started on Aug. 5 (amm.com, Aug. 6).

Participants agreed that the longer the strike, the more lead times for 2000- and 7000-series aerospace plate would extend (amm.com, Aug. 8).

Aerospace consumers are mostly feeling the pinch, with participants saying lead times for these alloys show no sign of tightening from the current timeframe of five to six months due to the supply constraints caused by the strike and increased demand.

"We’re having the hardest time getting (any) aircraft plate. (Mills) say ‘We’ll put in your order but we can’t guarantee delivery.’ The best would be February or March," one service center source said. "There’s a little more scrambling going on right now." ....